Device for bending plates



H. G. TREGILLUS.

DEVICE FOR BENDING PLATES.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 10. 1919.

Patented July 5, 1921.

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H. G. TIREGILLUS. DEVICE FOR BENDING PLATES.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 10,1919.

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HAROLD G. TREGILLUS, OF JEARRINGTON, ILLINOIS.

DEVICE FOR BENDING PLATES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 10, 1919. Serial No. 281,750.

Heretofore it has been the practice to bend plates into various shapes by the use of rolls. The length of the plate possible to be bent by rolls is limited by the length of said rolls, and the quantity of plates that can be bent in a given time by rolls necessarily is limited by the number of sets of rolls at the manufacturing plant. It is de sirable at times to roll plates of extraordinary length rather than bend a plurality of small plates and secure them togetherv thereafter. Furthermore, with a given number of rolls, it is impossible, under rush conditions, to bend the number of plates required. At the same time, it is not business economy to have too large a number of rolls if the rolls cannot be kept busy at all times.

Therefore, it is one object of this invention to overcome the above mentioned limitations, and to provide simple and inexpensive means for bending plates of any length without the use of rolls.

Another object is to provide a novel and efficient plate bending device adapted to meet the requirements for successful commercial use.

These and other objects are accomplished by means of the bending device shown on the accompanying sheets of d1. wings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of one form of my plate bending device, said device being shown in two different operative positions, one in full lines and the other in dotted lines.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation, and Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the same bending device.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a modified form of bending device; and

Fig. 5 is a side elevation and Fig. 6 a. top plan view of the modified form of bending device shown in Fig. 4.

Referring to all of the figures of the drawings generally, it will be noted that I have provided a plate bending device including a plate supporting and carrying frame having a plurality of frame members 10, which carry form members 11 corresponding in shape to the form to be given to the plates. These form members may be secured or held in engagement with the frame members 10 in any suitable manner. Referring particularly to Figs. 4, 5, and 6, it will be noted that the form members 11 are connected to the frame members 10 by connectingmembers -12, there being form-supporting members 13 secured to the connecting members 12. The forms 11 are removably secured to the form-supporting members 13 by bolts and nuts 14. The frame members 10 are,

connected to each' other crosswise by an angle member 15, wh1ch 1s arranged for Patented July 5, 1921.

receiving the plate 16 to be bent, the plate.

16 being interposed between the anglemem ber 15 and one extreme portion ofeach of the form members 11. In Figs. 1 to 3in-v elusive, the form members 11 are supported directly by the frame members: 10 which carry the plate 16 to be bent. Theframc carrying members .10 in each case are pivs otally connected at 17 to any suitable support 18, so that the plate carrying frame with the forms, as aunit, may be swung in accordance with operating conditions during the plate-bending operation. In bend ing the plates, chains 19, or other members,

are used, the chains being passed under the the form members 11, as shown in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, or over a projection 20, as shown in Figs. 4 to 6 inclusive, the free ends of the chains being secured to ring 21 by plates 16 to be bent and looped around over meansof which the chains may be connected 7 to a crane hook, not shown, or any other device by means of which a vertical lifting movement may be given.

With the chains set as shown, let it be assumed that a vertical lifting movement is applied at the ring 21 through the operation of a crane or other device. Such action will cause the plate to bend around the form members 11, and at the same time cause the plate-carrying frame members 10 and form members 11, as a unit, to swing from a. hori- I zontal position, as shown in full lines in the figures of the drawings, into a dotted line position, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, during which operation the plate is bent around the form members 11. It is desirable to have the direction of pull in the chains constant with respect to the plate, so that as the plate bends the direction of pull may be as nearly perpendicular as practicable to that portion of the plate yet to be bent.

It will be understood that the plates ordinarily are bent while in an unheated or cold condition, but if desired may be bent when in a heated condition; and that one or a series of the forms may bespaced at convenient intervals to bend a plate of any desired length. Not only can plates be bent into cylindrical troughs, but they also may be bent into many other shapes; for instance, into a conical shape, and into a bulged conical shape such as occurs in the forward and after ends of a molded ships hull. While I have referred to plates as being the articleto be bent by means of my bending device, I do not so limit the inven tion, because all commercial shapes, such as T-bars, channels and the like may be bent by this device in substantially the same manner as hereinbefore described in connection with the plates.

It is apparent that there may be various modifications of my invention, and it is my intention to cover all such modifications which do not involve a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

I claim: 1. A plate bending device comprising in combination a support member, a plate carrying member pivotally secured thereto, a form member associated therewith, and chains extending around the plate and adapted to pull the plate around the form member.

2. A plate bending device comprising in combination a support member, a plate carrying member pivotally secured thereto, a form member associated therewith, and chains secured at one of their ends to said plate carrying member and extending around the plate and adapted to pull the plate around the form member.

3. A plate bending device comprising a support, a plate carrying member pivotally a reasses secured thereto, form means secured to said plate carrying member and around which a plate may be bent, a flexible member anchored at one of its ends and extending around the plate to be bent, whereby the plate is subjected to a primary bending stress and then to a secondary bending stress whereby the plate is brought into position against the form means.

4. A plate bending device comprising in combination a support member, a plate carrying member pivotally secured to said support member, term means associated therewith, and chains adapted to exert a bending force upon the plate substantially at rightangles to the portion of the plate yet to be bent while holding the bent portion of the plate against the form.

5. A plate bending device comprising a support member, a plate carrying member pivotally connected thereto at one of its ends, form means secured to said plate carrying member at the end opposite the one;

secured to said support member, and a flexible member anchored at one of its ends and adapted to force a plate against the said form means.

6. A plate bending device including a pivotally mounted plate-carrying form means carried thereby, and a flexible member mounted underthe plate to be bent and anchored with respect thereto, whereby upon a movement of the flexible member in a given direction the plate will be bent around the form means as the plate-carrying member takes a swinging movement.

7. A plate bending device comprising a pivotally mounted plate carrying member adapted to take different positions, form means secured thereto and movable there with and means whereby a bending force may be applied to the plate substantially at right angles to the portion of the plate yet to be bent. V

Signed at Chicago, Illinois, this sixth day of March, 1919.

HAROLD G. TREGILLUS.

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